Dewalt Chop Saws are Junk!!!

[jds4x43]

While building the brackets for my gooseneck hitch this weekend my Dewalt Chop Saw pissed me off. I was cutting a piece of 8" C-Channel and motor started turning slower and slower. I looked in the end of it and fire was FLYING around the armiture under the brushes. I pulled the cover off and the armiture looked a little burnt. I polished it back bright with some 400 grit paper and put it all back together. Same thing no improvement. So now I have 1 dead saw and a piece half cut. I went and got the other Dewalt Chop Saw in our shop, it was brand new still in the box. Put a blade on it and it made two cuts, then the same thing. This is a total of three Dewalt Chop Saws my Dad and I have killed in a year. Are we doing something to "abuse" them? Or are they just shit? We aren't professional fabricators but in a farm shop they get used quite a bit, I'd still think they should last more than a couple months to 2 cuts.

Help me out
John

[High5]

i have no experience with a dewalt chop saw but the two other dewalt power tools (drill and 4.5" grinder) i have had didn't last a year. i will not buy another dewalt becuase of this.

[Impex]

might want to try a Ridgid from home depot, comes with a 3yr warranty, i went in to buy the 14" milwaukee but the ridgid had same specs but with a 3yr warranty so i bought it instead works great so far


-josh

[High5]

i saw the rigid the other day at home depot and it looked like a nice unit. i run a milwaukee.

[Supergper]

I've been using my Dewalt for about 3-4 years. Still going strong...I would rather have the rigid over a dewalt though...they seem to be pretty nice. Also, for most larger cuts I would rather have a band saw :D small stuff the chop saw is fine :D

[KS Toy]

Yep junk. I have went through 2 of them. Only got the 2nd because the first one was still under warranty when it smoked. I have an old Makita that just keeps on going.

[Benny]

My old boss had an older makita that seemed to last a long time with more than average abuse.

My first DeWalt lasted 2 1/2 yrs, 2 of which were full time fabrication (trailer fab shop). It died about a month ago. I have used my buddys milwaukee, had no power. I bought another DeWalt, but also bought the extended warrantee from Sears. I really need to get a band saw so that I dont have to use the chop saw as much.


Also, with ANY chop saw, I would NEVER cut a big channel like that. The big flat surfaces are hard to cut through. I would use a torch. I cut 3" channel regularly, and 4 and 5" channel occasionally. It is very hard on it.

[krb]

For cutting large pieces of mat'l get yourself a horizontal band saw!

[300sniper]

we have had great luck with the dewalt 871 chop saw. it has been in use for a few years and still works great. are you using the 870? i think this is more of a home shop grade. i would think that 8" c channel is prop way over capacity for the machine. for cutting large stock, you would be better off looking for a horizontal/ vertical band saw. i hardly ever use a cut off saw any more because of how obnoxious they are. usualy i can use my portable band saw to make most cuts. in the near future i will be shopping for a 7x12 horizontal/vertical band saw.

[Benny]

Both of mine have been 871's. I cut mostly tube and 2x3 and 2x2 angle. For flatbar, I mostly use my Milwaukee Portable Bandsaw.

[Jam Master Jay]

You were way over the capacity of that saw with a piece of channel that large. Big channel, bar, w-flange and large pipe needs to be cut in a lay-down saw or burned off.

[SHERPA]

You were way over the capacity of that saw with a piece of channel that large. Big channel, bar, w-flange and large pipe needs to be cut in a lay-down saw or burned off.

exactly what he said........

8" channel in a abrasive saw-? don't you own a torch-? every farm has to
have a torch..........

Sherpa

I know some people I wouldn't loan an anvil to...............

[luvmeye22refi]

Dewalt makes an excellent tool. I have all dewalt tools and have never had a problem with any of them. That saw is simply too small for what you are doing. It may save you some money to buy a band saw so you dont have to replace your tools once a month.

[Rock Taxi]

I've now toasted two Dewalt chop saws, both on relatively small stuff. One was on it's 3rd 45 degree cut of 1x1x.125" angle, the blade was still like new. Crap tools. A friend's cheapass Harbor Freight chop saw has been heavily abused and has outlasted both of my Dewalts.

Ed